Hands free dehooking device

ABSTRACT

A stationary hands free fish dehooking device ( 1 ) used for safely removing hooks and lures from a fish&#39;s mouth and/or body. The hands free dehooking device has a rigid ring ( 2 ) located on an end of an elongated arm ( 3 ) that is mounted to a fixed or stationary object ( 6 ), such as a box ( 8 ), boat ( 7 ), or other object that anchors the ring and arm in a fixed position for use. The ring and arm may also be rotatable so the hands free dehooking device may be rotated into a stored position or an operating position.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to devices used for removing hooks from fish andother aquatic life and more particularly, a stationary dehooking devicethat is mounted in a fixed location, thereby making the dehooking devicehands free.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are many circumstances when a fisherman catches a fish and needsto safely remove a hook from the fish without causing harm to the fish.One circumstance is when a fish is caught and is too immature and/orsmall to keep. In most of these cases, fisherman are required by law toreturn the fish to the water. Another circumstance is when fishermanfish using the practice of “catch and release,” wherein fish are onlycaught for the sport of catching the fish and the fisherman has nointention of keeping the fish. An additional circumstance is when afisherman catches an undesirable fish or other aquatic life that isun-edible and/or dangerous to handle.

In any of these cases, the fisherman must be careful not to injurehimself/herself and/or the fish while removing the fishing hook from thefish.

Often a fish hook is removed or dehooked from a fish with pliers. Thismethod requires the fish to be lifted out of the water and held whilethe pliers are used to pry the hook out of the fish's mouth. This methodputs extra stress on the fish and often tears more tissue than necessaryto remove the hook. In addition, this method requires that the fishermantouch the fish which could harm the fish's scales and/or fins to such anextent that the fish will not survive after being returned to the water.

Current dehooking devices available to anglers are hand-held devicesthat require the fisherman to bring the fish onto shore and/or onto aboat to remove the hook. These hand-held devices also require thefisherman to relinquish control of the fishing pole and/or for a secondperson to be present to assist in the removal of the hook. All of thesefactors contribute to a higher probability of the fisherman and/or thefish being unnecessarily injured during the hook removal process.

Therefore, the need exists for a dehooking device that is mounted in afixed location, thereby making the dehooking device hands free.

The relevant prior art includes the following references:

Pat. No. Inventor Issue/Publication Date (U.S. Patent References)2,348,662 Stevens May 9, 1944 3,019,547 Felts Feb. 6, 1962 4,914,853Swindle Apr. 10, 1990 5,274,948 Harrison et al. Jan. 4, 1994 6,453,601Duncan Sep. 24, 2002 6,694,664 Knight Feb. 24, 2004 6,840,002 Dick Jan.11, 2005 2009/0229167 Doss Sep. 17, 2009 6,138,401 Duncan Oct. 31, 20002010/0132243 Dick Jun. 3, 2010 7,818,914 Baiamonte et al. Oct. 26, 2010(Foreign Patent References) DE10103628 N/A Aug. 1, 2002 JP2005143416 N/AJun. 9, 2005 JP2009136268 N/A Jun. 25, 2009

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a stationaryfish dehooking device that is mounted in a fixed location, therebymaking the dehooking device hands free.

The present invention fulfills the above and other objects by providinga stationary hands-free fish dehooking device used for safely removinghooks and lures from a fish's mouth and/or body. The present inventioncomprises a rigid ring located on an end of an arm that is mounted to afixed object, such as a box, boat, or other object that anchors the ringin a fixed position for use. The ring preferable comprises an openingthrough which a user may slip a fishing line into the center of thering. The ring is preferably mounted in a horizontal position so thatwhen the user pulls upward on the fishing line, a hook and fish locatedon a distal end of the line comes into contact with the ring, therebycausing the hook to become dislodged from the fish and the fish to fallback into the water or into a storage container, depending on theposition of the dehooking device.

The dehooking device may be mounted over or in a storage container.Alternatively, the dehooking device may be mounted on or near the edgeof a boat so the arm and ring extend over the water. This allows thefish to be removed from the hook without a user touching the fish whichcan cause physical damage to the fish and in some cases the fish to dieshortly after being released. In one embodiment of the presentinvention, the dehooking device may be mounted to a boat railing on amotor boat or to a kayak or similar boat via a swiveling mount thatallows a user to rotate the dehooking device from a stored position toan operating position.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention should become even more readily apparent to those skilled inthe art upon a reading of the following detailed description inconjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and describedillustrative embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following detailed description, reference will be made to theattached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective top view of a hands free dehooking device of thepresent invention

FIG. 2 is a perspective top partial cutaway view of a storage box orlive well on a boat having a hands free dehooking device of the presentinvention installed therein;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a hands free dehooking device of the presentinvention mounted to a stationary base and in use;

FIG. 4 is a side view hands free dehooking device of the presentinvention having a tubular-shaped base;

FIG. 5 is a rear view hands free dehooking device of the presentinvention having a tubular-shaped base in a vertical position;

FIG. 6 is a rear view hands free dehooking device of the presentinvention having a tubular-shaped base in an angled position;

FIG. 7 is a rear view hands free dehooking device of the presentinvention having a tubular-shaped base in use on a boat;

FIG. 8 is an exploded side plan view of a hands free dehooking device ofthe present invention having a mountable stationary base;

FIG. 9 is a top view of a mountable stationary base of the presentinvention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective top view of a flush mount hands free dehookingdevice of the present invention in a partially stored position; and

FIG. 11 is a perspective top view of a flush mount hands free dehookingdevice of the present invention in an operating position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

For purposes of describing the preferred embodiment, the terminologyused in reference to the numbered components in the drawings is asfollows:

-   -   1. hands free dehooking device, generally    -   2. ring    -   3. arm    -   4. distal end of arm    -   5. proximal end of arm    -   6. stationary base    -   7. boat    -   8. storage box    -   9. mounting means    -   10. nut    -   11. washer    -   12. threaded portion    -   13. live well    -   14. floor panel of storage box    -   15. perimeter edge of floor panel    -   16. perimeter wall of storage box    -   17. upper edge of perimeter wall    -   18. inner surface of perimeter wall    -   19. outer surface of perimeter wall    -   20. central aperture of ring    -   21. slot    -   22. fishing line    -   23. X-Y axis    -   24. fish    -   25. hook    -   26. distal end of fishing line    -   27. water    -   28. tubular base    -   29. top end of tubular base    -   30. upper portion of tubular base    -   31. bottom end of tubular base    -   32. lower portion of tubular base    -   33. fishing pole holder    -   34. mountable stationary base    -   35. rotating post    -   36. bottom surface of mountable stationary base    -   37. side surface of mountable stationary base    -   38. top surface of mountable stationary base    -   39. attachment means    -   40. screw    -   41. hub    -   42. opening of hub    -   43. locking means    -   44. groove    -   45. ridge    -   46. stud    -   46A. first stud    -   46B. second stud    -   47. aperture    -   48. locking post    -   49. stop    -   50. recessed portion

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a perspective top view of a hands freedehooking device 1 of the present invention and a perspective toppartial cutaway view of a storage box 8 or live well 13 on a boat havinga hands free dehooking device 1 of the present invention installedtherein, respectively, are illustrated. The hands free dehooking device1 of the present invention comprises a preferably rigid ring 2 locatedon a distal end 4 of an elongated arm 3. A proximal end 5 of the arm 3is preferably mounted to an object 6, such as a boat 7, dock, storagebox 8, cooler, base or any other object that anchors the hands freedehooking device 1 in place and allows an individual to use the handsfree dehooking device 1 in a hands free manner. The hands free dehookingdevice 1 is mounted to the object 6, via at least one mounting means 9that secures the proximal end 5 of the elongated arm 3 to the object 6.As illustrated in FIG. 1, the mounting means 9 comprises at least onenut 10 and at least one washer 11 secured to a threaded portion 12 ofthe hands free dehooking device 1. The at least one mounting means 9 mayalso comprise a bolt, bracket, screw, adhesive, rivet, clamp and soforth. The dehooking device 1 is mounted to a storage box 8 for storingcaught fish, such as a cooler, live well 13, bucket and so forth, via athreaded portion 12 located on the proximal end 5 of the arm 3 of thedehooking device 1 and washers 11 and nuts 10 that engage the threadedportion 12. The storage box 6 comprises a floor panel 14 having aperimeter edge 15 from which at least one perimeter wall 16 extendsupward perpendicularly a predetermined distance terminating at an upperedge 17. Said perimeter wall 16 comprises and inner surface 18 and anouter surface 19. The ring 2 and arm 3 are preferably mounted in ahorizontal position in relation to the floor panel 14 of the storage box6. The dehooking device may have a foldable arm 3, telescoping arm 3and/or an interchangeable arm 3 that allows a user adjust the length ofthe dehooking device 1 according to the object 6 it is being mounted to.

The positioning of the dehooking device 1 on the inner surface 18 of theat least one perimeter wall 16 allows a fish to drop directly into thestorage box 6 after a hook is removed from the fish. The ring 2surrounds central aperture 20. A slot 21 is located in the ring allows auser to insert a fishing line 22 through the ring 2 and into the centralaperture 20.

With reference to FIG. 3, a side view of a hands free dehooking device 1of the present invention mounted to a stationary base 6 in use isillustrated. A slot 21 located in the ring allows a user to insert afishing line 22 through the ring 2 and into the central aperture 20 ofthe ring 2 so that the fishing line 22 is in substantially perpendicularposition to the arm 3 and the ring 2 when the fishing line 22 is held inan upright position over the ring 2 (as compared to an X-Y axis 23),while being weighed down with a fish 24 caught on a hook 25 located on adistal end 26 of the fishing line 22 located below the ring 2. When theuser pulls upward on the fishing line 22, the hook 25 and fish 24located on the distal end 26 of the fishing line 22 comes into contactwith the ring 2, thereby causing the fishing hook 25 to become dislodgedfrom the fish 24. The fish 24 will then fall into the water 27 below.

With reference to FIGS. 4-7, various views of a hands free dehookingdevice 1 of the present invention having a tubular-shaped base 28 areillustrated. The dehooking device 1 of the present invention may bemounted on or near the edge of a boat 7 so the arm 3 and ring 2 extendover the water 27 when in use, as illustrated in FIG. 7. This allowsfish to be removed from the hook and released directly back into thewater 27 without a user touching the fish, which can cause physicaldamage to the fish and in some cases the fish to die shortly after beingreleased. As illustrated here, the hands free dehooking device 1 of thepresent invention comprises a preferably rigid ring 2 located on adistal end 4 of an elongated arm 3. A proximal end 5 of the arm 3 ismounted to a tubular-shaped base 28 either integrally or via at leastone mounting means 9. The tubular-shaped base 28 comprises a top end 29having an upper portion 30 of the tubular-shaped base 28 locatedproximal thereto and a bottom end 31 having a lower portion 32 of thetubular-shaped base 28 located proximal thereto. The proximal end 5 ofthe arm 3 extends perpendicularly from the upper portion 30 of thetubular-shaped base 28, thereby allowing the lower portion 23 of thetubular-shaped base 28 to be inserted into a fishing rod holder 33located on a boat 7, as illustrated in FIG. 7.

The angle of the tubular-shaped base 28 is preferably adjustable inrelation to the arm 3 to allow the tubular-shaped base 28 to be insertedinto a vertical fishing pole holder 33 or an angled fishing pole holder33 while the arm 3 and ring 2 are adjusted to maintain a parallelposition (as compared to an X-Y axis 23) in relation to the water 27over which the arm 3 and ring 2 extend.

With reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, an exploded side plan view of a handsfree dehooking device 1 of the present invention and a top view of amountable stationary base 34 of the present invention, respectively, areillustrated. The hands free dehooking device 1 of the present inventioncomprises a preferably rigid ring 2 located on a distal end 4 of anelongated arm 3. A rotating post 35 is located on a proximal end 5 ofthe arm 3 and is perpendicular to the arm 3, thereby creating anL-shape. The hands free dehooking device 1 comprises a mountablestationary base 34 that attaches to the rotating post 35. The mountablestationary base 34 comprises a bottom surface 36, at least one sidesurface 37 and a top surface 38. The mountable stationary base 34attaches to a surface, such as a surface of a kayak or boat railing, viaat least one attachment means 39, such as a nut, bolt, washer, screw 40,adhesive, rivet and so forth.

The rotating post 35 is inserted and housed within a hub 41 ortubular-shaped aperture located within the mountable stationary base 34.The hub 41 comprises an opening 42 on the top surface 38 of themountable stationary base 34 to allow for insertion of the rotating post35 into the hub 41. This allows the arm 3 and ring 2 to be rotatedoutward over the side of a kayak or boat and over the water into anoperating position. A locking means 43, such as at least one groove 44and/or at least one ridge 45 may be located on the hub 41 and/or therotating post 35 to lock the arm 3 and ring 2 into a desired position.

With reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, a perspective top view of a flushmount hands free dehooking device 1 of the present invention in apartially stored position and a perspective top view of a flush mounthands free dehooking device 1 of the present invention in an operatingposition, respectively, are illustrated. The hands free dehooking device1 of the present invention comprises a preferably rigid ring 2 locatedon a distal end 4 of an elongated arm 3. A rotating post 35 is locatedon a proximal end 5 of the arm 3 and is perpendicular to the arm 3,thereby creating an L-shape. The hands free dehooking device 1 comprisesa mountable stationary base 34 that attaches to the rotating post 35.The mountable stationary base 34 comprises a bottom surface 36, at leastone side surface 37 and a top surface 38. The mountable stationary base34 attaches to a surface, such as a boat railing, via at least oneattachment means 39, such as a nut, bolt, washer, screw 40, adhesive,rivet and so forth. As illustrated here, the mountable stationary base34 comprises two studs 46, which are preferably threaded, that extenddownward from the bottom surface 36 mountable stationary base 34. Thestuds 46 may be inserted into holes drilled into a railing of a boat andsecured using washers 11 and nuts 10. The studs 46 are preferablytubular and hollow and assessable from apertures 47 located in themountable stationary base 34. The rotating post 35 is inserted andhoused within a first stud 46A. A locking post 48 extending downwardfrom the arm 3 and which is parallel to the rotating post 35 may beinserted into a second stud 46B. The locking post 48 is preferablyshorter than the rotating post 35 to allow the arm 3 to be lifted highenough to disengage the locking post 48 from the second stud 46B whilethe rotating post 35 remains engaged with the first stud 46A. Thisallows the arm 3 and ring 2 to be rotated outward over the side of aboat and over water into an operating position. A stop 49 is preferablylocated on the rotating post 35 to prevent rotating post 35 from beingpulled completely out of the first stud 46A. A locking means 43, such asat least one groove 44 and/or at least one ridge 45 may be located onthe mountable stationary base 34 and/or in the first stud 46A, to lockthe arm 3 into a perpendicular position in relation to the mountablestationary base 34 (either over the water or over the deck of the boat)while the dehooking device 1 is in an operating position, as illustratedin FIG. 11. The arm 6 may be sectional, folding, removable and ortelescoping, to allow the dehooking device 1 to be used as a cleat fortying off ropes.

The mountable stationary base 34 preferably has a recessed portion 50that the arm 3 and ring 2 rest in while in a stored position. Thiscreates a substantially flush surface between the mountable stationarybase 34, arm 3 and ring 2, thereby reducing the chance of individualstripping or becoming caught on the hands free dehooking device 1 whennot in use.

It is to be understood that while a preferred embodiment of theinvention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific formor arrangement of parts herein described and shown. It will be apparentto those skilled in the art that various changes may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to beconsidered limited to what is shown and described in the specificationand drawings.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:
 1. A hands free dehookingdevice for removing hooks from fish comprising: a ring located on adistal end of an elongated arm; said arm having a proximal end with atleast one mounting means located thereon; said ring surrounding acentral aperture; and a slot located in the ring to allow a user toinsert a fishing line through the ring and into the central aperture. 2.The hands free dehooking device of claim 1 wherein: said proximal end ofthe arm is mounted to a storage box via said at least one mountingmeans.
 3. The hands free dehooking device of claim 2 wherein: saidstorage box comprises a floor panel having a perimeter edge from whichat least one perimeter wall extends upward perpendicularly apredetermined distance terminating at an upper edge; said perimeter wallcomprises and inner surface and an outer surface; said ring and arm aremounted on the perimeter and extending from the inner surface of the atleast one perimeter wall in a horizontal position in relation to thefloor panel of the storage box.
 4. The hands free dehooking device ofclaim 1 wherein: said proximal end of the arm is mounted to atubular-shaped base.
 5. The hands free dehooking device of claim 4wherein: said tubular-shaped base comprises a top end having an upperportion of the tubular-shaped base located proximal thereto; a bottomend having a lower portion of the tubular-shaped base located proximalthereto; and said proximal end of the arm extends perpendicularly fromthe upper portion of the tubular-shaped base.
 6. The hands freedehooking device of claim 5 wherein: an angle of the tubular-shaped baseadjustable in relation to the arm.
 7. The hands free dehooking device ofclaim 1 wherein: a rotating post extending downward from the arm so thatthe rotating post is perpendicular to the arm, thereby creating anL-shape.
 8. The hands free dehooking device of claim 7 furthercomprising: a mountable stationary base having a hub located thereinthat engages the rotating post in a manner that allows the arm and ringto be rotated in relation to the mountable stationary base.
 9. The handsfree dehooking device of claim 8 further comprising: at least onelocking means located on the rotating post.
 10. The hands free dehookingdevice of claim 8 further comprising: at least one locking means locatedon the mountable stationary base.
 11. The hands free dehooking device ofclaim 7 further comprising: a mountable stationary base having a tubularhollow stud extending therefrom that engages the rotating post in amanner that allows the arm and ring to be rotated in relation to themountable stationary base.
 12. The hands free dehooking device of claim11 further comprising: at least one locking means located on therotating post.
 13. The hands free dehooking device of claim 12 furthercomprising: at least one locking means located on the mountablestationary base.
 14. The hands free dehooking device of claim 13 furthercomprising: said at least one locking means located on the mountablestationary base is a groove that engages the arm when the arm and ringare rotated into an operating position.
 15. The hands free dehookingdevice of claim 11 further comprising: a locking post extending downwardfrom the arm so that the locking post is perpendicular to the arm; and asecond tubular hollow stud extending downward from the mountablestationary base that engages the locking post when the arm and ring arerotated into a stored position.
 16. The hands free dehooking device ofclaim 11 further comprising: a recessed portion located on the mountablestationary base that engages the arm and ring while the arm and the ringare in a stored position.